Are you telling him that you like him because you think it’s possible he likes you back? Or are you telling him to try to break up him and his girlfriend? Think about the reason you want to tell him that you like him, and make sure it doesn't have any ill intent.  If you’re telling him you like him to get it off your chest so you can move on, this is perfectly okay and very reasonable. If you're telling him just to cause drama in his relationship and hope that he dumps his girlfriend for you, your actions aren't going to be coming from a nice place. If you tell the guy that you have feelings for him, it's likely that his girlfriend will find out. Think about how she'll feel if she knows that you like her boyfriend, especially if she's a friend of yours too.  If his girlfriend is one of your friends, she might feel betrayed, or it could change your friendship with her negatively.  If she doesn't know you, she may encourage her boyfriend not to interact with you anymore now that she knows you like him. If he's clearly flirting with you or making comments that hint that he likes you, this may be contributing to you wanting to tell him about your own feelings. It's okay to want to figure out if he likes you to, but just remember: if he's flirting with you while he has a girlfriend, this doesn't show that he's a very trustworthy person.  Consider talking about the fact that you believe he's flirting with you and what his intentions are. Let him know that he should be respectful of his girlfriend's feelings, but also of yours as well. You might say something like, "I feel like you've been flirting with me lately, and it's leaving me a bit confused. Do you actually like me?" Maybe you two are really close friends, and if he finds out that you like him while he has a girlfriend, it might jeopardize your friendship. Think about the consequences of telling him your feelings and decide whether you think it's worth it to tell him that you like him.  For example, if you tell him, he might act awkwardly around you or avoid you a little bit more so he doesn't upset his girlfriend. If you're not worried about risking your friendship and just need to tell him to get your feelings off of your chest, go for it. Since he already has a girlfriend, it’s very possible that he won’t have the same feelings for you that you have for him if you tell him. Think about the worst case scenario so that you feel prepared and won’t be taken by surprise. If you do choose to tell him, be proud of yourself for putting yourself out there and telling him how you feel, knowing that admitting your feelings was what was best for you.

Summary: Figure out your motive for telling him that you like him. Put yourself in his girlfriend's shoes to see how she would feel. Decide if you think he has feelings for you and what this means. Think about whether it's worth risking your friendship over. Prepare yourself mentally for rejection.


It’s important that you continue making your existing payments as you complete the consolidation process. Until you’ve been informed that your loans have been paid off and your consolidation loan has taken effect, you are legally required to make those payments. Most federal student loans do qualify, but it’s important to make sure that all of your individual loans will be included. The following loans qualify:  Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans Direct PLUS Loans PLUS loans from the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program Supplemental Loans for Students Federal Perkins Loans Federal Nursing Loans Health Education Assistance Loans Go to https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action. The application process is simple, since the Department of Education will already have all of your personal information and records of all your federal loans. Again, you should avoid consolidating your federal loans through private lenders. If you do not stay with the Department of Education, you’ll lose access to many resources and benefits, and you will probably pay more. Once you’ve completed the application process, the Department of Education will provide you with a summary sheet, which lists all of the loans you are consolidating. Review this document carefully.  If everything looks correct, you don’t need to do anything. After fifteen days, the Department of Education will process your loan. If anything looks amiss – if the numbers are off, or if any of your federal loans aren’t included – contact the Department of Education within fifteen days of the date on the summary sheet. Once your consolidation loan is approved, you must choose a repayment plan. If any of your loans were in default, you’ll choose one of the three income-based options – either IBR, Pay-As-You-Earn, or ICR. If none of your loans were in default, you can choose any of these six plans:  Standard Repayment. You’ll make regular payments that are calculated so that your loan will be paid off within ten years. Many people who consolidate find that they cannot afford the standard plan, but if you can, it’s the most cost-effective option. Graduated Repayment. You’ll make payments that start out low and increase every two years, so that you pay the entire balance in ten years. If you don’t make much money but expect your income to increase regularly with time, this is a solid, cost-effective option. Extended Repayment Plan. You’ll make lower payments, but you’ll continue making them for 25 years. This option is only available if your loan amounts to more than $30,000. Income-Based Repayment (IBR). You’ll make payments for twenty-five years, and after that, any remaining debt will be forgiven. Your payments will not exceed 15% of your discretionary income. Pay-As-You-Earn Repayment. You’ll make payments for twenty years, and after that, any remaining debt will be forgiven. As with IBR, your payments will not exceed 15% of your discretionary income. Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR). You’ll make payments for twenty-five years, and after that, any remaining debt will be forgiven. Your payments will not exceed 20% of your discretionary income. Now that your federal loans have been consolidated, it’s important not to neglect your payments. If you go into default, your credit rating will suffer, and you’ll lose your access to further federal student aid – in short, you’ll reverse the positive effects of your consolidation.

Summary: Continue making your payments. Determine whether your loans qualify for consolidation. Apply online. Read your summary sheet carefully. Make arrangements for repayment. Make your payments as required.


Nearly all universities and colleges offer a general education program or classes outside of an area of expertise that cover a broad range of topics and approaches. The material taught in general education courses focuses on interdisciplinary information so that you can gain knowledge and apply it to real life situations.  If you decide to attend university, make sure you take classes in a variety of subjects to broaden your general knowledge. Taking a diversity of classes has shown to make an impact in job interviews, collaborating with colleagues, and contributing to a community. College campuses offer many opportunities to join one or several different clubs in whatever you are interested in. Surrounding yourself with people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and interests will only help you to gain more general knowledge.   Extracurricular activities enhance and refresh your mind and body which, in turn, will increase your ability to immerse yourself with new knowledge. Search for other ways to expand your general knowledge by looking out for service projects, event planning, or writing a newsletter. These activities will help you to stay up to date on relevant information. Faculty knows how people learn, or at least they know more than most. It is not uncommon to find students in faculty offices during meeting hours to discuss lecture, assignments, or just about anything else. Make yourself one of those students who visit faculty during office hours. You will learn more than you ever imagined.   Check your syllabus. That is where professors post their office hours for that semester. Or, you can usually find a schedule posted to their door or at the department assistant’s office. If you cannot meet during the assigned hours, call or email your professor to make an appointment during a different time.


Summary: Decide on a general education program. Join clubs, organizations, and honoraries. Interact with faculty and staff.